Dunkirk, NY (WBEN) After 49 people tested positive for COVID19 at Fieldbrook Foods in Dunkirk, Chautauqua County health officials say the plant will not be shut down.
"We have determined through our investigation there is no reason to close down the Fieldbrook Foods plant related to this outbreak," says Public Health Director Christine Schuyler. "I can say that confidently because we came to a consensus on this decision. Fieldbrook has two production shifts, and the third shift is a sanitation shift." She says it made no sense to close for a deep clean since that is being donw every 24 hours. Schuyler adds there is a protocol the company uses to test for COVID19, and those who are ill are directed to a local health care provider for testing.
In addition to Tuesday's mass testing clinic, Schuyler says there were positive cases from outside testing, most of which the result of Fieldbrook's protocols.